16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

— John 3:16-18; 36

13 You are the salt of the earth…

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

16 … let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

— Matthew 5:13-14; 16

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Blesses and peace from Christ to you.

Failure to accept Christ’ redemption leads to an empty life void of God’s forgiveness and unable to experience God’s love or wisdom. When people refuse Christ’s sacrifice, they remain under God’s wrath and will live separated from God forever. But when we understand the price Christ paid for our redemption, His magnified grace reaches to us sinners. God does not want to abandon us to our helpless estate. Through the faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, our lives can be redeemed and transformed.

When we believe in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit seals and indwells us, we are reborn with a new life and we can live a life filled with joy even in the most difficult circumstances. Since we are redeemed, regenerated as God’s children, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life different from the world’s empty ways. We become the salt and light on earth. As we participate in Chris’s divine life and nature through rebirth, we magnify Christ and point the world to Christ. We become blessings of this world.